1955 Monaco Grand Prix
Encyclopedia
The 1955 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One
motor race held at Monaco
on May 22, 1955. It was the second round of the 1955 World Drivers' Championship
and was given an honorary name, Grand Prix d'Europe.
of Fangio and Moss dominated, running 1-2 until half distance, trailed by Ascari and Castellotti. At the halfway mark, Fangio retired with transmission trouble, giving the lead to Moss. Almost a lap ahead, a seemingly sure win for Moss was ended on Lap 80 when his Benz's engine blew. The new leader Ascari got it all wrong at the chicane coming out of the tunnel, his Lancia crashing through the barriers into the harbour and having to swim to safety. Maurice Trintignant, in a Ferrari 625 thought to be uncompetitive, inherited the lead and scored his first Formula One victory.
Mercedes
driver Hans Herrmann
injured himself in practice and was replaced by André Simon.
This race marked the Grand Prix debut for Cesare Perdisa
. It was the only Grand Prix appearance for Ted Whiteaway
. This was the last Grand Prix appearance for Alberto Ascari
; he was killed four days later testing a Ferrari sports car at Monza.
It was the first win for Maurice Trintignant
and Englebert
tyres. It was also the first podium and points for Eugenio Castellotti
and Cesare Perdisa
, and the first win for a French driver.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
motor race held at Monaco
Circuit de Monaco
Circuit de Monaco is a street circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the principality of Monaco. It is commonly referred to as "Monte Carlo" because it is largely inside the Monte Carlo neighbourhood of Monaco.The circuit is used on one weekend in...
on May 22, 1955. It was the second round of the 1955 World Drivers' Championship
1955 Formula One season
The 1955 Formula One season was the sixth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1955 World Championship of Drivers, which commenced on January 16, 1955 and ended on September 11 after seven races...
and was given an honorary name, Grand Prix d'Europe.
Race report
Stirling Moss had been signed by Mercedes for the new season and Maserati had replaced him with Jean Behra. The Silver ArrowsSilver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
of Fangio and Moss dominated, running 1-2 until half distance, trailed by Ascari and Castellotti. At the halfway mark, Fangio retired with transmission trouble, giving the lead to Moss. Almost a lap ahead, a seemingly sure win for Moss was ended on Lap 80 when his Benz's engine blew. The new leader Ascari got it all wrong at the chicane coming out of the tunnel, his Lancia crashing through the barriers into the harbour and having to swim to safety. Maurice Trintignant, in a Ferrari 625 thought to be uncompetitive, inherited the lead and scored his first Formula One victory.
Mercedes
Mercedes GP
Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season....
driver Hans Herrmann
Hans Herrmann
Hans Herrmann is a former Formula One and Sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.In F1, he participated in 19 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on August 2, 1953...
injured himself in practice and was replaced by André Simon.
This race marked the Grand Prix debut for Cesare Perdisa
Cesare Perdisa
Cesare Perdisa, October 21, 1932–May 10, 1998, was a racing driver from Bologna, Italy. He participated in 8 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 22, 1955...
. It was the only Grand Prix appearance for Ted Whiteaway
Ted Whiteaway
Edward N. "Ted" Whiteaway was a British racing driver from England. His single World Championship Formula One entry was at the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix in his privately-entered HWM, but he failed to qualify...
. This was the last Grand Prix appearance for Alberto Ascari
Alberto Ascari
Alberto Ascari was an Italian racing driver and twice Formula One World Champion. He is one of only two Italian Formula One World Champions in the history of the sport, and the only one winning his two championships in a Ferrari....
; he was killed four days later testing a Ferrari sports car at Monza.
It was the first win for Maurice Trintignant
Maurice Trintignant
Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...
and Englebert
Englebert (tyre manufacturer)
Englebert was a Belgian tyre manufacturing company founded by Oscar Englebert at Liège in 1877.-History:In 1898 Oscar Englebert, who till then had worked with rubberised coatings and mats, set up a tyre factory in Belgium, manufacturing pneumatic tyres for bicycles and automobiles, and by 1912 the...
tyres. It was also the first podium and points for Eugenio Castellotti
Eugenio Castellotti
Eugenio Castellotti was a Formula One driver from Italy.-Driving career:Castellotti was born in Lodi. After being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, Eugenio Castellotti participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 January 1955...
and Cesare Perdisa
Cesare Perdisa
Cesare Perdisa, October 21, 1932–May 10, 1998, was a racing driver from Bologna, Italy. He participated in 8 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 22, 1955...
, and the first win for a French driver.
Classification
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 |  Maurice TrintignantMaurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1... |
Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing.... |
100 | 2:58:09.8 | 9 | 8 |
| 2 | 30 |  Eugenio CastellottiEugenio Castellotti Eugenio Castellotti was a Formula One driver from Italy.-Driving career:Castellotti was born in Lodi. After being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, Eugenio Castellotti participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 January 1955... |
Lancia | 100 | +20.2 secs | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | 34 | Jean Behra Jean Behra Jean Marie Behra was a Formula One driver who raced for the Gordini, Maserati, BRM, Ferrari and Porsche teams.-Appearance and personality:... Cesare PerdisaCesare Perdisa Cesare Perdisa, October 21, 1932–May 10, 1998, was a racing driver from Bologna, Italy. He participated in 8 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 22, 1955... |
Maserati Maserati in motorsport Throughout its history the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants.-Beginnings:... |
99 | +1 lap | 5 | 2 2 |
| 4 | 42 | Nino Farina Giuseppe Farina Emilio Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was an Italian racing driver. He stands out in the history of Grand Prix motor racing for his much copied 'straight-arm' driving style and his status as the first ever Formula One World Champion.-Biography:Born in Turin, Italy and nicknamed "Nino", Farina was a doctor... |
Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing.... |
99 | +1 lap | 14 | 3 |
| 5 | 28 | Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:... |
Lancia | 99 | +1 lap | 7 | 2 |
| 6 | 32 |  Louis ChironLouis Chiron Louis Alexandre Chiron was a Grand Prix driver.-Career:As a teenager, Louis Chiron fell in love with cars and racing. He learned to drive at a young age and joined the Grand Prix circuit after World War I where he had been requisitioned from the artillery section to serve as a chauffeur... |
Lancia | 95 | +5 Laps | 19 | |
| 7 | 10 | Jacques Pollet Jacques Pollet Jacques Pollet was a racing driver from France. He participated in 5 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 4, 1954. He scored no championship points.... |
Gordini Gordini Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956.... |
91 | +9 laps | 20 | |
| 8 | 48 | Piero Taruffi Piero Taruffi Piero Taruffi , was a racing driver from Italy, and also the father of lady racer Prisca Taruffi.-Sports car career:...  Paul FrèrePaul Frère Paul Frère was a racing driver and journalist from Belgium, born in Le Havre . He participated in eleven World Championship Formula One Grands Prix debuting on 22 June 1952 and achieving one podium finish with a total of eleven championship points... |
Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing.... |
86 | +14 laps | 15 | |
| 9 | 6 | Stirling Moss Stirling Moss Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England... |
Mercedes Mercedes GP Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season.... |
81 | +19 laps | 3 | |
| Ret | 40 | Cesare Perdisa Cesare Perdisa Cesare Perdisa, October 21, 1932–May 10, 1998, was a racing driver from Bologna, Italy. He participated in 8 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 22, 1955... Jean BehraJean Behra Jean Marie Behra was a Formula One driver who raced for the Gordini, Maserati, BRM, Ferrari and Porsche teams.-Appearance and personality:... |
Maserati Maserati in motorsport Throughout its history the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants.-Beginnings:... |
86 | Spun off | 11 | |
| Ret | 26 | Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari was an Italian racing driver and twice Formula One World Champion. He is one of only two Italian Formula One World Champions in the history of the sport, and the only one winning his two championships in a Ferrari.... |
Lancia | 80 | Accident | 2 | |
| Ret | 46 |  Harry SchellHarry Schell Harry O'Reilly Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:... |
Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing.... |
68 | Engine | 18 | |
| Ret | 36 |  Roberto MieresRoberto Mieres Roberto Mieres is a former racing driver from Mar del Plata, Argentina. He participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on June 7, 1953. He scored a total of 13 championship points.... |
Maserati Maserati in motorsport Throughout its history the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants.-Beginnings:... |
64 | Transmission | 6 | |
| Ret | 12 | Élie Bayol Élie Bayol Élie Marcel Bayol was a French racing driver who raced in Formula One for the O.S.C.A. and Gordini teams. He started his career in 1950 racing 500cc Formula 3 DB-Panhards and progressed to Formula 2 races and hillclimbs around France. His best result was a fourth place in the Circuit de Cadours,... |
Gordini Gordini Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956.... |
63 | Transmission | 16 | |
| Ret | 2 | Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
Mercedes Mercedes GP Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season.... |
49 | Transmission | 1 | 1 |
| Ret | 8 | Robert Manzon Robert Manzon Robert Manzon is a former racing driver from France. He was born in Marseille. He participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 21, 1950. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points... |
Gordini Gordini Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956.... |
38 | Gearbox | 13 | |
| Ret | 4 | André Simon |
Mercedes Mercedes GP Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season.... |
24 | Engine | 10 | |
| Ret | 18 | Mike Hawthorn Mike Hawthorn John Michael Hawthorn was a racing driver, born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, England, and educated at Ardingly College, West Sussex.-Racing career:... |
Vanwall Vanwall Vanwall was a Formula One motor racing team that competed in the 1950s. Founded by Tony Vandervell, the Vanwall name was derived by combining the name of the team owner with that of his Thinwall bearings produced at the Vandervell Products factory at Acton, London... |
22 | Throttle | 12 | |
| Ret | 14 | Louis Rosier Louis Rosier Louis Rosier was a racing driver from France.-Career highlights:... |
Maserati Maserati in motorsport Throughout its history the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants.-Beginnings:... |
8 | Fuel leak | 17 | |
| Ret | 38 | Luigi Musso Luigi Musso Luigi Musso was an Italian racing driver.-Racing career:Musso began his racing career driving sports cars before debuting on the Formula One circuit on 17 January 1954, driving a Maserati. In 1954 he won the Coppa Acerbo, a non-championship Formula One race. At Zandvoort, in the 1955 Dutch Grand... |
Maserati Maserati in motorsport Throughout its history the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants.-Beginnings:... |
7 | Transmission | 8 | |
| DNQ | 22 | Lance Macklin Lance Macklin Lance Noel Macklin was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952.... |
Maserati Maserati in motorsport Throughout its history the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants.-Beginnings:... |
||||
| DNQ | 24 | Ted Whiteaway Ted Whiteaway Edward N. "Ted" Whiteaway was a British racing driver from England. His single World Championship Formula One entry was at the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix in his privately-entered HWM, but he failed to qualify... |
HWM Hersham and Walton Motors Hersham and Walton Motors is the world's longest established Aston Martin business and is well known as a racing car constructor. As a constructor, it is best known for its involvement in Formula Two from 1950 to 1953 and Formula One in 1954... -Alta |
||||
| DNQ | 4 |  Hans HerrmannHans Herrmann Hans Herrmann is a former Formula One and Sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.In F1, he participated in 19 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on August 2, 1953... |
Mercedes Mercedes GP Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season.... |
Driver injured |
Shared drives
-
- Car #34: Jean BehraJean BehraJean Marie Behra was a Formula One driver who raced for the Gordini, Maserati, BRM, Ferrari and Porsche teams.-Appearance and personality:...
(42 laps) and Cesare PerdisaCesare PerdisaCesare Perdisa, October 21, 1932–May 10, 1998, was a racing driver from Bologna, Italy. He participated in 8 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 22, 1955...
(57 laps). They shared the 4 points for third place. - Car #48: Piero TaruffiPiero TaruffiPiero Taruffi , was a racing driver from Italy, and also the father of lady racer Prisca Taruffi.-Sports car career:...
(50 laps) and Paul FrèrePaul FrèrePaul Frère was a racing driver and journalist from Belgium, born in Le Havre . He participated in eleven World Championship Formula One Grands Prix debuting on 22 June 1952 and achieving one podium finish with a total of eleven championship points...
(36 laps). - Car #40: Cesare PerdisaCesare PerdisaCesare Perdisa, October 21, 1932–May 10, 1998, was a racing driver from Bologna, Italy. He participated in 8 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 22, 1955...
(40 laps) and Jean BehraJean BehraJean Marie Behra was a Formula One driver who raced for the Gordini, Maserati, BRM, Ferrari and Porsche teams.-Appearance and personality:...
(46 laps).
- Car #34: Jean Behra
Summary
- Juan Manuel Fangio broke the track record that had stood since 1937, when Rudolf CaracciolaRudolf CaracciolaOtto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times...
turned a lap in 1:46.5 in a 5.6-litre Mercedes W125, running the circuit in 1:41.1 on the first day of practice in his Mercedes W196. - Alberto Ascari matched Fangio's time in his Lancia D50 during the Saturday practice, though the order had been set on the first day of practice in a singular exception to the policy of the time of all practice laps counting towards grid position.
- In practice, Mercedes youngster Hans HerrmannHans HerrmannHans Herrmann is a former Formula One and Sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.In F1, he participated in 19 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on August 2, 1953...
crashed into a harbour wall and suffered injuries that took him out for the rest of the season. - Ascari was driving the number 26 car, the same number that had been on the P2 Alfa Romeo his father, Antonio AscariAntonio AscariAntonio Ascari was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing champion.Antonio Ascari was born near Mantua, in the Lombardy region of Italy, as the son of a corn dealer. He began racing cars at the top levels in Italy in 1919, using a modified 1914 Fiat...
, had been driving when killed in the July 26, 1925 French Grand PrixFrench Grand PrixThe French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships....
. The superstitious Ascari was between Mercedes drivers Fangio and Stirling Moss in the numbers 2 and 6 respectively. - Andre Simon had the first Mercedes to leave contention in the race, when engine failure took him out of the race. Of the Mercedes, Fangio left the race next with transmission problems on lap 50, leaving Stirling Moss in first and Ascari in second. Lap 80 saw Moss taken out by a minor problem in his car's sophisticated valve train, leaving Ascari in first. He never made it past the pits to see that, however: his Lancia didn't make the chicane (possibly losing traction on oil from Moss's engine failure) and he flipped over the barrier and in to the harbor. His Lancia was craned out of 25 feet of water while he spent the night in the hospital.
- Later events indicate that he probably should have kept his superstitions up and taken this as an omen, but his motivation wouldn't quit and four days later he was back in the cockpit at MonzaAutodromo Nazionale MonzaThe Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
, where he was killed in a bizarre accident while testing a Ferrari. On the 26th of the month. There are no definite explanations for either of Ascari's accidents, but the Monza incident was, apart from possible undetected brain injuries after the crash, probably caused by an improperly-sized tire – 7.00x16 rather than 6.50x16 – combined with an imperfect track surface. - Mercedes also had not seen the last of their troubles – after all three cars left contention with mechanical problems at Monaco, the worst accident in racing history1955 Le Mans disasterThe 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large parts of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. The driver was killed, as were 83 spectators. A further 120 people were injured...
involved a Mercedes. - Louis ChironLouis ChironLouis Alexandre Chiron was a Grand Prix driver.-Career:As a teenager, Louis Chiron fell in love with cars and racing. He learned to drive at a young age and joined the Grand Prix circuit after World War I where he had been requisitioned from the artillery section to serve as a chauffeur...
's start made him the oldest driver to start a grand prix (55 years, 292 days).
Drivers' Championship standings after the race
| Pos | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maurice Trintignant Maurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1... |
11.33 |
| 2 | Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
10 |
| 3 | Nino Farina |
6.33 |
| 4 | Eugenio Castellotti Eugenio Castellotti Eugenio Castellotti was a Formula One driver from Italy.-Driving career:Castellotti was born in Lodi. After being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, Eugenio Castellotti participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 January 1955... |
6 |
| 5 | José Froilán González José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix... |
2 |
- Note: Only the top five positions are included.
Sources
- Kettlewell, Mike. "Monaco: Road Racing on the Riviera", in Northey, Tom, editor. World of Automobiles, Volume 12, pp.1381-4. London: Orbis, 1974.